Knowt
Unit 4 Module 30
States differ greatly in how they organize and govern their territory. Political geographers recognize two basic types of spatial organization: the unitary state and the federal state.
Subnational Units: Many states are divided into smaller units. For example:
United States: divided into states
Canada: divided into provinces
Unitary States
In a unitary state, power is concentrated in the central government; subnational units have little or no authority.
Characteristics:
Top-down centralized government
Major decisions come from the central government
Policies are uniform across the national territory
Examples: France, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Saudi Arabia, China.
Federal States
A federal state disperses significant authority among subnational units.
Characteristics:
More subnational self-rule
Helps reduce centrifugal forces and supports cohesion
Examples: United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Switzerland.
Regional Distribution
North America: All countries are federal states.
Central and South America: Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela are federal states; others are unitary.
Europe: Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are federal states; others are unitary.
Africa: Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia are federal states; others are unitary.
Middle East and Asia: Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Malaysia are federal; others are unitary.
Australia is federal; New Zealand is unitary.
Influencing Factors on Government Type
Physical Geography: Size
Cultural Factors: Religion, culture, language
Unitary systems better for smaller, culturally homogenous countries.
Case Study: Monaco - a small unitary state.
Federal systems suited for larger countries, allowing regional governance.
Example: Belgium - a small country with federal governance accommodating two cultural groups (Flemish and Walloons).
Case Studies: Rwanda and Iceland
Rwanda: Unitary state post-independence in 1962 with ethnic tensions (Hutus and Tutsis); president reduced provinces for ethnically diverse governance.
Iceland: Unitary state and republic with two administration levels; local councils administer limited matters under central government supervision.
Native American Reservations and Nunavut
United States: Reservations derived from treaties with indigenous nations; unique political entity with self-governing rights.
Canada: Nunavut territory created in 1999 for indigenous peoples, retains a degree of autonomy but managed by the Canadian government.
Unit 4 Module 30
States differ greatly in how they organize and govern their territory. Political geographers recognize two basic types of spatial organization: the unitary state and the federal state.
Subnational Units: Many states are divided into smaller units. For example:
United States: divided into states
Canada: divided into provinces
Unitary States
In a unitary state, power is concentrated in the central government; subnational units have little or no authority.
Characteristics:
Top-down centralized government
Major decisions come from the central government
Policies are uniform across the national territory
Examples: France, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Saudi Arabia, China.
Federal States
A federal state disperses significant authority among subnational units.
Characteristics:
More subnational self-rule
Helps reduce centrifugal forces and supports cohesion
Examples: United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Switzerland.
Regional Distribution
North America: All countries are federal states.
Central and South America: Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela are federal states; others are unitary.
Europe: Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are federal states; others are unitary.
Africa: Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia are federal states; others are unitary.
Middle East and Asia: Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Malaysia are federal; others are unitary.
Australia is federal; New Zealand is unitary.
Influencing Factors on Government Type
Physical Geography: Size
Cultural Factors: Religion, culture, language
Unitary systems better for smaller, culturally homogenous countries.
Case Study: Monaco - a small unitary state.
Federal systems suited for larger countries, allowing regional governance.
Example: Belgium - a small country with federal governance accommodating two cultural groups (Flemish and Walloons).
Case Studies: Rwanda and Iceland
Rwanda: Unitary state post-independence in 1962 with ethnic tensions (Hutus and Tutsis); president reduced provinces for ethnically diverse governance.
Iceland: Unitary state and republic with two administration levels; local councils administer limited matters under central government supervision.
Native American Reservations and Nunavut
United States: Reservations derived from treaties with indigenous nations; unique political entity with self-governing rights.
Canada: Nunavut territory created in 1999 for indigenous peoples, retains a degree of autonomy but managed by the Canadian government.
